UTORII Hires Researchers to lead Research Initiatives

A white female scientist performs research behind a glass panel. — ORNL’s Sandra Davern and a team of other leading researchers from UTK and UTHSC are working together to accelerate the development of new radiopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer.

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute is ahead of schedule to hire 100 innovators by 2030 (50 at UT and 50 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory) to accelerate world-leading innovation and further establish UT and ORNL as leaders in these important joint convergent research initiatives:

Clean manufacturing and advanced materials
Energy storage and transportation
Circular bioeconomy systems
Radiopharmaceutical therapies.

2024 President’s Awards Announced

University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd announced the recipients of the 2024 President’s Awards during the annual UT Board of Trustees meeting in June.

Fifteen faculty and staff members from across the UT System received the awards in recognition and celebration of their accomplishments and dedication to the university and its Be One UT values.

This year’s recipients, the largest cohort in the program’s history, represent UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, UT Southern, UT Martin, UT Health Science Center, UT Institute for Agriculture, UT Institute for Public Service and the UT Space Institute in Tullahoma, a part of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The awards are the highest honor an employee can receive from the university.

Read about the winners at president.tennessee.edu/awards/.

A road-side, red barn with the words "Everywhere You Look, UT" painted on it. — With a goal of 63 counties boasting murals in the Everywhere You Look, UT campaign—including this one on Love Farm, owned by Becky Love (Knoxville ’69) in Unicoi County—by the end of 2024, the University of Tennessee is well on its way to paint a mural in all 95 of Tennessee’s counties by 2030. The university covers the cost of the first mural in each county. To learn more about the Everywhere You Look, UT murals or to submit a location for consideration, visit everywhere.tennessee.edu/murals.

Flood waters from Hurricane Helene destroyed the Love family barn on Sept. 27, 2024. The family plans to have the mural painted on another property in Unicoi County.

Matthews, Babski-Reeves Join UT System

The UT System appointed Matt Matthews as associate vice president for academic affairs and Kari Babski-Reeves as associate vice president for research.

Matthews works with system and campus-level units to promote unity in academic policies across the UT System. Additionally, Matthews supports the Tennessee Board of Trustees Education, Research and Service Committee. He also was appointed to serve as the system’s liaison to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Tennessee Department of Education and State Board of Education.

Matthews previously worked as the senior vice provost at UT Chattanooga, where he participated in cross-divisional strategic initiatives, including master planning and student success.

Babski-Reeves provides strategic leadership to advance the UT System’s research agenda. She plays a crucial role in the UT Grand Challenge grants program, which addresses critical challenges in Tennessee by investing up to $5 million in community projects and research.

With 18 years at Mississippi State University, Babski-Reeves previously served as associate dean at the Bagley College of Engineering, where she led research, graduate and distance programs.